The ACF Leagues continue on Sunday and once again Geordie McGuckin takes a look at the fixtures and assesses the chances of the teams taking part.
A C League Div One (2.00pm)
St Enda’s v Creggan
Creggan proved too good for Ahoghill in their opening game and they will take the road up to Glengormley in a positive mode.
The reigning county champions focus will be on the retention of their crown but early season positivity is evident.
St Enda’s had a good 2021 season and will hope to build on that this term but need to improve on their first round defeat at Rossa as they welcome the Creggan men.
St Enda’s will be looking forward to this one but current form would suggest Creggan as likely winners.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Brigid’s
Casement’s impressed on their first outing of the season in which they paid a visit to Corrigan and emerged with victory over the Johnnies.
A good result for the Bannsider’s under new management and they will look forward to playing hosts to St Brigid’s again.
St Brigid’s had a fair 2021 season and a win over their hosts on their own terrain was included and they may well travel in pursuit of another couple of points.
St Brigid’s opened their 2022 account with a first round victory over Tir na nOg but they may well have to settle for second best in this one as Casement’s may gain the day.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St John’s
Despite giving their all Ahoghill came up short on their first outing when they lost to Creggan.
The Clooney men will reflect on more than a few missed opportunities in that one and look for a better return on this occasion as they welcome the Johnnies to Cloney.
St John’s failed to cope with Casement’s up at Corrigan last week and better is needed if they are to gain an opening win down in the South West, but a win for the visitors looks possible.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Mary’s Aghagallon
Despite fielding under strength up at Hannahstown last week Cargin, thanks mainly to the fire power of big Pat Shivers earned a draw with Lamh Dhearg and they will look for better on home turf as Aghagallon visit.
Ronan Devlin will possibly have added in personnel for this one for the visit of last year’s beaten championship finalist to Toome.
Aghagallon enjoyed a great 2021 and they added to a senior championship final appearance with a minor title and they will travel down to the eastern shores of Lough Neagh in some confidence but the home side may just nick the points.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v Gort na Mona
Tir na nOg enjoyed a great 2021 with a hard earned league championship double ensuring a date with the big boys and a first division residency.
The Randalstown men started with an away game at St Brigid’s where they performed well but lost by three points
The Whitehill side have home advantage for their second taste of division 1 football with Gort na Mona set to visit and the home side need a victory to lift the spirits.
St Gall’s v O’ Donavan Rossa
Rossa opened their account with a good win over visiting St Enda’s and the Shaw’s road inhabitants will travel the short distance to Milltown hoping to double their tally.
They had an excellent start to competition last year and their opening form suggests they are on the same track this term.
St Gall’s have been on a team building mission over the past couple of years but their opening round defeat at the hands of Aghagallon would suggest better is required but they can never be discounted.
Division Two (2.00pm)
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
Dunloy opened their 2022 account with a win over visiting Sarsfields and they will travel up to Glenavy in a positive mood.
Glenavy struggled last term but although they lost their opening game at St Teresa’s it was only by the minimum and they will be hoping for a win on their own sod.
Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Sarsfield’s lost out to Dunloy last time and they will face another stiff test on their own sod as Moneyglass visit following an opening round victory over All Saint’s.
Moneyglass, under home grown management, got off to a winning start and the St Ergnat’s men will hope to add to it as they visit the Bear Pit.
All Saint’s Ballymena v St James Aldergrove
All Saint’s, under the new management of Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley lost their opening game at the Marian Hill but they will return to home base seeking improvement.
All Saint’s had a good season 2021 finishing runners up in both league and championship and they will be hoping for improvement in this one as Aldergrove visit.
Aldergrove hit 6-8 against Ardoyne on day one and may well gain the points again but if All Saints can get some of their missing players back for this one it could be close.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v Michael Davitt’s
Michael Davitt’s can be a bit erratic on occasions but they did hint at better on their opening game when they finished level with St Paul’s.
Ardoyne struggled in their opening encounter when they fell to a heavy defeat at Crumlin and they will hope for improvement in round two from the visit of Davitt’s.
St Paul’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin
Rasharkin under the new management duo of Ciaran Mc Cartney and Adrian Dougan opened their 2022 campaign with a win over the visiting Glenravel and this will give them confidence as they take the road to Belfast to meet St Paul’s.
St Paul’s were held to a draw at Davitt’s last time and they will be seeking a full return in this one as the Dreen men visit Shaw’s road.
Con Magees Glenravel v St Teresa’s
Con Magees suffered defeat at the hands of Rasharkin last time but they will have home advantage for the visit of St Teresa’s and will be hoping to open their account.
St Teresa’s gained victory on their own sod over Glenavy in round One but this will be a more difficult task as they travel to Fr. Maginn Park.
Division Three (2.00pm)
Laochra Loch Lao v St Comgall’s Antrim
St Comgall’s are favourites for honours in this division and having opened account at their ease in round one they may well add to that tally in this one as they travel to Laochra Loch Lao.
St Malachy’s v Eire Og
The Mal’s found the going tough down at Antrim in round one and they will aspire to better here as they play hosts to Eire Og,
St Agnes v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
O’ Donnell’s got off to an opening day victory over Wolfe Tones and they can add a couple more point here as they visit Woodlands to play St. Agnes.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v Patrick Pearses
Pearses opened their 2022 account with a win over Laochra Loch Lao but they will find this a more difficult assignment as they travel to Lisburn.
Wolfe Tones v St Gall’s (3)
St Gall’s thirds found the going tough in their first outing but they may well find this one easier when they play Wolfe Tones
Club PROs we need your help
The ACFL’s continue on Sunday and once again the Saffron Gael will be out in force to cover as many of those games as possible. Last week, despite a limited number of reporters and photographers, we covered nearly every game that was played, thanks in no small way to your club PRO’s.
Those clubs who were not featured in our match reports have an opportunity to have their games covered this weekend if we are not at their games while we appeal once again to those that contributed to continue send us report and photographs if possible.
Coverage of your team’s games helps to promote your club and make it more attractive to your members and the Saffron Gael provides you with an opportunity to have reports of your games carried free of charge
If you don’t feel comfortable in doing a full report here is how you can have your game reported.
- Send us a copy or photograph of both team sheets.
- Make a list of scorers names or number of the player scoring as the scores occur
- Add a time as to when the score came.
- Half time and full time score
- Any other info you may think is relevant
You can email a report from your games and anything else GAA you want covered to john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk or ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk